What’s Actually Inside a Compliant First Aid Kit in Kenya (Full OSH Schedule)

The Occupational Safety and Health (First Aid in the Workplace) Regulations, 2023 don’t just say “keep a first aid box” — they set out, item by item, exactly what has to be inside it, and the list scales in four bands by how many people work on site: 1–9, 10–50, 51–100, and 101–500 workers. Most employers we talk to have a box, but nobody has actually checked its contents against these bands since it was first stocked. Here’s the full schedule, and where our five kits sit against it.

In short: a workplace of 1–9 people needs a smaller list of items in smaller quantities than a workplace of 10–50 — more gauze, more dressings, more gloves, an extra whistle and torch. Above 50 workers, the quantities step up again at 51–100 and again at 101–500, and at that scale it’s worth requesting a quote scoped to your exact headcount rather than assuming an off-the-shelf box covers it. No band, at any size, allows medicine in the box.

The four bands, item by item

This is the schedule as set out in the regulations. It’s more specific than most people expect — not just “bandages” but exact counts.

1–9 workers

Gauze (5), cotton wool (10g), antiseptic (1 litre), eye pads (2), adhesive strips (12), triangular bandages (2), crepe bandages (3), small dressings (3), medium dressings (3), large dressings (2), haemostatic gauze (5), safety pins (50), scissors (1), receptacle (1), bowls (3), sterile gloves (50), non-sterile gloves (100), eye drops (250ml), masks (2), waste container (1), blanket (1), whistle (1), torch (1), mirror (1), plus a first aid leaflet.

10–50 workers

Gauze (20), cotton wool (20g), antiseptic (3 litres), eye pads (4), adhesive strips (24), triangular bandages (4), crepe bandages (8), small dressings (6), medium dressings (6), large dressings (6), haemostatic gauze (5), safety pins (50), scissors (1), receptacle (3), bowls (3), sterile gloves (50), non-sterile gloves (100), eye drops (250ml), masks (2), waste container (1), blanket (1), whistle (2), torch (2), mirror (2), plus a leaflet.

51–100 workers

Gauze (20), cotton wool (50g), antiseptic (5 litres), eye pads (8), adhesive strips (36), triangular bandages (8), crepe bandages (15), small dressings (12), medium dressings (24), large dressings (24), haemostatic gauze (10), safety pins (100), scissors (2), receptacle (5), bowls (6), sterile gloves (50), non-sterile gloves (100), eye drops (250ml), masks (4), waste container (2), blanket (2), whistle (3), torch (3), mirror (4), plus a leaflet.

101–500 workers

Gauze (50), cotton wool (100g), antiseptic (5 litres), eye pads (16), adhesive strips (72), triangular bandages (16), crepe bandages (15), small dressings (20), medium dressings (24), large dressings (24), haemostatic gauze (15), safety pins (100), scissors (4), receptacle (5), bowls (6), sterile gloves (50), non-sterile gloves (100), eye drops (500ml), masks (4), waste container (4), blanket (4), whistle (3), torch (3), mirror (4), plus a leaflet.

Where our five kits sit against these bands

Our small metal box is built for the 1–9 band. Our medium and large boxes both sit within the 10–50 band — the regulation doesn’t split that band any further, so the difference between medium and large is really about how much room you want spare, not a separate legal threshold. The wall-mounted version of the large box holds the same contents, fixed in place. The plastic box is sized for a vehicle, small shop or single office rather than a specific headcount band.

We don’t currently list a box pre-configured to the 51–100 or 101–500 bands as a fixed catalogue item — at that scale, the honest answer is to request a quote so the contents can be matched exactly to the regulation’s higher-band quantities rather than guessing with an off-the-shelf size.

Two rules that apply no matter which band you’re in

Medicine is excluded from the first aid box at every single band — the regulations state this in plain terms. The box holds dressings, bandages, gloves and the other items above; tablets, ointments or any other medication don’t belong in it, regardless of headcount. Every band also requires a first aid leaflet inside the box, and a workplace with more than 500 workers needs a dedicated first aid room staffed by a registered nurse, clinical officer or medical practitioner rather than a box at all.

Ordering for your headcount

We supply all five kit sizes with delivery in Nairobi and countrywide. For a single office or workshop, one of the standard sizes above will usually match your band directly. For a larger site, or several sites at once, we can scope a request for quote around your actual headcount rather than a flat price list.

Frequently asked questions

Does a workplace of 15 people need the same first aid kit as one with 45 people?

Under the regulations, both fall inside the same 10–50 worker band, so the required contents and quantities are technically the same. We offer a medium and a large box within that band to give some headroom, but neither is a separate legal requirement — either meets the 10–50 band if properly stocked.

Is medicine ever allowed in a workplace first aid box in Kenya?

No. The Occupational Safety and Health (First Aid in the Workplace) Regulations, 2023 exclude medicine from the box at every headcount band. It’s for dressings, bandages, gloves and similar items, not tablets or ointments.

What’s the exact quantity of gauze required for a 10–50 person workplace?

The regulation specifies 20 pieces of gauze for the 10–50 worker band, alongside the other items and quantities set out for that band.

Does Specialised Hardwares stock a kit for workplaces over 50 people?

Not as a fixed catalogue size — the 51–100 and 101–500 bands need higher quantities than our standard boxes hold. We can put together a request for quote scoped to the exact band your headcount falls into.

Where can I see the full regulation myself?

It’s published as the Occupational Safety and Health (First Aid in the Workplace) Regulations, 2023 on Kenya Law’s official legislation portal — worth checking directly if you’re finalising a compliance audit rather than relying on any single supplier’s summary, including ours.

This is one part of getting a site fully compliant and stocked. See our guides to choosing the right first aid kit size and wall-mounted vs portable kits, our guide to first aid cover across multiple sites, or browse our guides to gumboots, hi-vis vests, rainwear and dust masks and respirators.

Browse the full first aid kit range in stock now, or get in touch for a bulk quote scoped to your headcount and sites.